Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-11-18
States Attorney Contest.

that the Democratic nomination for the
States Attorneyship had been rendered to
Mr.. L. A. Wilmer, who afterwards became
the republican nominee for the same Of
fee and was by him declined. This state
ment, we take it, demands some explana-
tion to satisfy the minds of many sterling
Democrats who still value party integrity
and desire to see it maintained among US !;
for there are still many of this class in the
county. The question will naturally occur
to their minds, why was the Democratic
nomination ever so offered, or why did the
gentleman who was the Democratic nom-
inee ever concede that he did not desire
the nomination, if Mr.. Wilmer would &C.
cept it2 They will naturally ask them
selves, what right had q republican who
was serving a term of Office as the candi-
date OF the local party claiming that name,
to receive or to be rendered Democratic
nomination.
The members of the recent county con-
vention probably understood the course
of reasoning by which the conclusion. up
on which the action referred to was based.
was arrived at. Many others who were
not members probably do not. 1t was
this: Mr.. Wilmer, though elected on the
local republican ticket four years ago (by
less than the party vote) has ever since
maintained course of absolute independ-
snce of the self-styled local republican
party. He has in fact not hesitated to
critise the local leaders as renegade. Demo
Gratis who left their party to get office
through the negro vote. He has been
among those who have 'censured the ex-
travsgsnce and mismsnsgement of the
local affairs. He cast his vote in 1885 for
q portion of the local Democratic cand-
idates and has since made public avowal
Of the fact. He did not vote for Blaine
but purposely abstsined from voting. The
whole tenor of his private and public &C
tions since be has been In the county has
been in manifest sympathy with the local
Democratic party and in condemnation Of
the opposition. To this it may be added
that he has repeatedly avowed himself as
an advocate Of unqualified free trade and
of State rights in its brosdest acceptation.
thus putting himself in direct antagonism
to the Republican party of the country,
upon its two cardinal and Fundamental
principles and putting himself in advance
of the Democratic party upon one of them
and in strict accord with it on the other.
Early this fall it was freely put forth 10
Democratic circles by friends of Mr.. VIII
mer claiming to have authority from him
that be was anxious to cut loose from the
local republican party; ths, he had no
sympathy or fellowship With it, and while
he wanted to be States Attorney again. he
did not want it as the nominee of the local
republican party. These friends. being
themselves Democrats. referred to the past
independent action of Mr.. Wilmer and bis
present antagonism to the cardinal prin-
ciples Of the Republican party. His past
vigilance and energy as prosecuting Of
ficer was also urged and assurance given
that il he was recognized by the Demo
Gratis Mr.. Wilmer would become 10 full
afiliatlon with them. 1t was reported ihs,
in numerous public and private converse
tions at tournaments and other public
meetings early in the fall Mr.. Wilmer him
self corroborated mos, Of these statements,
avowed his antagonism 10 the Republican
party on its tariff and Capitalization dog
mas, and stated that he did not desire and
did not see how he could possibly accept
the republican nomination for the States
Attorneyship. though he wanted the Office.
These facts all came to be considered in
Democratic councils and Mr.. Muschettc,
who was the only Democratic lawyer who
desired the States Attorneyship nomina-
tion, announced on the morning of the
convention that in consideration OF the
facts above stated, his position would be
that, II Mr. Wilmer was willing to come
in and accept the Democratic nomination
and make common cause with Us, that he,
Mr.. Muschette, would not be candidate
before the convention. This fact was autho.
itatively communicated to Mr.. Wilmer on
that day, ard then it was that he faltered
He hesitated and said that he feared he
would 60 too far il be accepted the nomi-
nation outright. He would like to have
Democratic support, but was afraid be
would go too far to accept the nomination.
He therefore declined the nomination.
This. We believe, explains the position of
the Democratic party and Mr.. Muschette
in this matter.
The action OF Mr.. Wilmer, after all that
had been said and done by his friends and
himself, in declining the Democratic nom
ination and afterwards accepting the nom
ination Of the local republican party Is not
for u to explain. Neither is it our pro-
vince or our purpose to undertake to ex-
plain the action of those alleged Demo
Gratis who after all this had occurred cut
off the name of the Democratic nominee
from the ticket and voted for the Repub-
lican nominee. But we feel bound to say
that they directly violated the fundamen-
tai principles fparty fealty and discipline
in doing 50, and now that their work is
done we question if they feel any very
great amount of satisfaction in regard to
it.
Ex-Governor VIM. Pinkney Whyte, who
was elected Attorney General of Maryland,
in speaking of the late contest said: "The
result OF the election is very gratifying to
nae, as it should be to every sincere Dem
ocrat. 1t was more than any ordinary
State conteat for ita reau1t laroelv affecta